NIGERIA NEEDS TO RECOVER FROM ITS PRESENT STATE OF POULTRY PRODUCTION

Abstract

The importance of food in the Socio-economic Development of any economy cannot be over emphasized. Animal protein deficiency in the diets of an average Nigerian has been well documented.
There is an increasing evidence of high infant mortality, Marasmus, thriftiness, low resistance to diseases, poor growth and development, metal retardation, Kwashiorkor etc. and lack of suitable food containing protein of high quality with which to treat and prevent these conditions. At present, only a small proportion of the protein in the diets of the average Nigerian is derived from livestock products. The need to meet part of our animal protein requirement from domestic source demands intensification of production of meat derived from more prolific animal stoke poultry. Poultry has a shorter life cycle and is much more prolific than larger livestock such as cattle. They are easy to raise and adaptable to a wide range of climatic conditions. More-over, the relative energy and protein conversions of a unit of available meat is highest for poultry. Consumption of high quality protein and vitamins supplied by poultry products aids greatly in building strong muscle, bones and other body tissues in young children and adults and increases the capacity of the population to perform productive work, thereby helping to improve standard of living. However, the Nigeria Poultry Industry today is in such a sorry state of neglect and decay to play any meaningful roles in sustaining food security and supporting nation building. Some of the factors responsible for this situation will be identified in this paper and possible solutions would be proffered, so as to arrest this trend and launch Nigeria into the fast approaching next millennium with a healthy populace.